Many times we learn by listening to stories. We learn from stories on tv and movies, and Jesus Parables. Stories are fun. Stories give us something to think about. One of Jesus’s stories was about the Good Samaritan.
The Samaritans and the Jews did not like each other. They would say unkind things to each other. They would not help each other. They lived in the same towns but would not talk to each other. Sound like anyone you know? We all have certain people we do not like. Sometimes we cannot remember the reason – we have just decided we do not like them. God says we should learn to love everyone.
The story goes:
A Samaritan set off on a trip. A bunch of bad people stopped him – took his money and hurt him. They left him lying in the ditch beside the road.
Along came a well-known Man of God. He saw the man lying there but did not want to help him. He had important meetings to attend. Helping the man would make him late. He passed on by the hurt man.
Next along came a Deacon. This was a man of God that worked in the church. He hurried past the man. He also did not want to get his clothes dirty or bloody. He looked the other way.
The last man to pass the man in the ditch was a very poor man. He only had enough to maybe buy himself dinner. They would normally not even speak to each other. This last man, the Samaritan, had a kind heart. He saw the man was hurt. He could just as easily walked by him and left him in the ditch. He was not a great man or someone that worked in the church. He was a stranger to the Samaritan. He stopped; he made bandages of his clothes. He gave the man water to drink. He helped him to a local motel and paid for a room for him. He gave to feed him. He promised to come back and pay more if it was needed.
Which of the three showed love for this stranger? The Man of God, the Deacon, or the Samaritan? Jesus said we should be like the Samaritan. Do not look at a person’s color or listen to their accent – be kind and loving to all of God’s people. Learn to love those that do you wrong or may not love you. Jesus tells us to do the same thing. Love one another!
Activities:
1) For the next three days I want you to do something nice for someone. At least one of those should be someone that has not been nice to you. Remember to write in your notebook what you did and how you felt each time.
2) Find three things that make you smile and share them with a friend. This can be a picture, a funny story, a piece of your candy, or whatever you come up with. Write what you did and how it made you feel to share in your notebook.
3) Last I want you to read three stories – they can be fables, story tales, Bible stories, or whatever you want to read. Then I want you to tell someone the stories. Write in your note book the names of the stories and who you told them to.
Bye till next time. God bless.
Listen to GrandPa Burkett read The Creation on www.YouTube.com at http://youtu.be/ICgfVXIzeEo
